Uniform Details

1967 to the 1972 period, US Army, M-1951 Pattern, Shirt, Man's, Field-Wool/Nylon, Olive Green Shade Number 108, belonging to Major General Coffin, Commanding General of the United States Army Southern European Task Force, US Army Europe

Jacket has his enbroidered (not inked) and then sewn on "Coffin" name tag on the right side

Has his embroidered and then sewn on Major General's two Star insignia sewn on each collar side

Has his "Bevo" style "US Army" tag sewn on his left breast

Has his embroidered and then sewn on "Basic Parachutust Badge" on his left breast

Has his "Headquarters Southern European Task Force" patch sewn on his left shoulder sleeve

Includes his original "Trousers, Filed, Wool-Nylon Serge, OG-108, Spec. Number MIL-T-11100-A (QMC) Pattern Date 7 November 1951"

Includes his "Cap, Field, Cotton, With Visor, Pattern Date 20 March 1951, Spec. Number MIL-C-1911A"

Includes his photo and 3 pages of biographical historical information

Condition - Excellent/Plus

Biographical Information on Major General Robert Edmondston Coffin

Coffin was born in June of 1917. In 1939 he attended the University of Washington. He graduted from West Point as a 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry. In 1941 he obtained the rank of a 1st Lieutenant. He was with the 3rd Infantry Division during the invasion of North Africa in 1942. Also in 1942 he became a temporary Captain in rank. Coffin also became a temporary Major in 1943, and a temporary Lieutenant Colonel in 1945. Between 1945 and 1948 he was assigned to the War Department General Staff Intelligence Division a the Chief Of The Soviet Branch. Then from 1950 to 1953 he was an instructor at the Command And General Staff College. Coffin would also attend the Field Artillery School, Basic Course earlier in his military career, and both the Armed Forces Staff College and the National War College, later in his career. In 1955 Coffin became a temporary Colonel, also he was assigned to the Army Research And Development, with successive appointments as Chief, Research Division, Nuclear Division and Missiles and Space Division. He was responsible for the staff planning and operations which led to the launch of Jupiter-C, which was the 1st United States satellite in January of 1958. By 1960 he was in command of a Missile Task Force in Italy. Coffin became a Brigadier General (i.e.: a 1 Star General), and the Assistant Division Commander of the 2nd Infantry Division in Georgia in 1963 where he worked primarily in the tests of air assault concepts that were based on the large scale use of helicopters. In 1965 he was assigned to SHAPE as the Chief Of The Nuclear Activities Branch. Then in 1967 he was a Major General (i.e.: a 2 Star General) and was assigned as the Deputy Chief Of Army Research And Development. From 1969 to 1971 Coffin was the Commanding General of Southern European Task Force, NATO Nuclear Force, Italy. Coffin then became the Deputy Director, Engineering And Management, Defense Research and Engineering, Department of Defense in 1971 as a Lieutenant General (i.e.: a 3 Star General). A person can only wonder how General Coffin reacted to jokes made by fellow Army soliders to him about his unusual name of "Coffin"!

Some Awards and Medals of Major General Coffin

The Distinguished Service Medal

The Legion of Merit with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster

The Bronze Star Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

The Joint Service Commendation Medal

The Army Commendation Medal

The Basic Parachutist Badge

Comments from the Curator:

This named uniform to General Coffin traces his career all the way back to World War II when he was a Combat Infantryman, making this uniform quite desirable. Coffin's career saw much service in both nuclear and missile fields which is fairly rare to find today. Another high point of this uniform was his service in the 2nd Infantry Division with helicopters - a revolutionary concept at the time. And as a wonderfil trivialty - his unique name of "Coffin" adds much humor to this General's history, and make this uniform grouping a high point in any collection.

Buy it Now - $2500.00

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A.A.F. Tank Museum
3401 U.S. Hwy 29B
Danville, VA  24540
434-836-5323   Fax: 434-836-3532